jay1051971's Full Review: Popular Woodworking Magazine
About two years ago, we moved into the house where we currently live. It is an older home that the previous owner did a marvelous job preserving and remodeling. In fact, when we came through on our walk through, I was shocked to see all of the craftsmanship displayed in the home. When we went down in the basement, the secret was revealed, as the guy virtually had an entire carpentry shop down there. I knew I was in trouble, as I suspected that I was about to inherit a rather large pair of shoes.
That’s why I was very happy to find Popular Woodworking magazine. As it’s name implied, this magazine is geared for anyone who enjoys building and creating various projects from wood. Published six times a year by F & W Publications, this magazine provides many helpful hints, new ideas, and important lessons to all would be woodsmiths. For this review, I have in hand the August 2002 and December 2002 issues, along with a special “Collector’s Edition” dated July 2003.
Each issue is approximately 80 to 100 pages in length. The layout and design of the issue is very much what you would expect from a practical crafts type of publication – a lot of white space, photos and diagrams, and charts. The advertising is fairly prominent, but not too distracting, and includes pitches from tool manufacturers, accessory vendors, and even a “How-to” book club. There is usually a product information bind-in card, which makes getting in touch with advertisers much easier.
There are two groups of main articles. The first group is classified as the “Tools and Techniques” section, which is more like a regular columns section. Here one might find a “Tricks of the Trade” column, which may discuss making better quality hinges, or a sturdy pegboard. A “Tool Test” piece is devoted to reviewing and testing some type of tool or machine. Various other articles in this section are devoted to informing the reader on the more technical aspects of woodworking. For a beginner like me, a column discussing the differences between shapers and router tables was very informative.
The other section of main articles is listed as “Projects”. This is where the publishers provide ideas and instructions for what to build next. You find diagrams and detailed instructions about how to create such things as cabinets, tables, and shelves. Many are very useful pieces, while others are for more decorative purposes. One interesting project in the August issue was called the “Octopus’s Garden”. This bizarre looking piece serves as a unique addition to any fencepost, or deck rail. Needless to say, I won’t be making that one any time soon.
The special issue from July 2003 is titled “Great American Furniture”. As it’s name implies, this issue is entirely devoted to the how-tos of creating some very beautiful furniture - things like a 19th century Shaker style candle stand, a Chippendale butler tray table, or a Nicolai Fechin style bench. These really elaborate pieces of furniture can be very intimidating. Indeed, I got the sense that despite some very well written instructions, and clearly drawn diagrams, you do need to have some experience with wood in order to complete these projects. However, the magazine did include one project for beginners, which was a nice looking candle box.
Overall, I think Popular Woodworking is a very useful publication and can be enjoyed by people at all skill levels. Granted, it does seem to be geared more for people with a little bit of experience (and a complete workshop in their garage), but as a beginner, I found each issue to be very educational. Reading this magazine took me back to my seventh grade woodshop class, as I thought of how cool it would be to be able to build something with my own two hands. Unfortunately, I do not own any wood working machinery, and the extent of my carpentry experience goes back to that time I sanded down and stained a set of shelves. I will still continue to read this magazine for the insights it offers. And who knows, I may decide to invest in some equipment someday! This magazine is a solid rating of four stars.
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